Friday, October 29, 2010

My project comes from the March 2008 Ballard Designs catalog. The Ball and Spear Finials came in a set of 3, original price $69, sale price in this catalog $39.99.

I started out with this…thing…that I got in the clearance section at Hobby Lobby for about $2. I suppose it’s meant to be a finial, but the gold color was really kind of yuck.

This was actually one of my very first blog projects, and I didn’t take any photos of the process. First, I spray-painted it with gray primer. Then using gray and white acrylic paints and a dry brush method to give it a weathered look. Although in this side-by-side the colors look quite a bit different, the catalog says their finials have a “weathered gray finish”.

Today I have it on top of my hutch, which currently is not so much arranged as just a haphazard placement of things as they come into the house, both inside and on top.

A close-up of the dry brush technique:

I must confess, I actually did the painting before I saw it in the Ballard catalog, and though I knew when I bought it that I would paint it, I wasn’t sure how until I saw the same item on another blog, as is explained in my original post.

So this is a happy coincidence that it looks so much like the Ballard finials, but the take-home message here is look past what you see on the surface and imagine what it could be. Don’t judge a book by its cover and all that.

Party rules:

your knock-off entry must be made by you

it must inspired by Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, or Restoration Hardware

you must include a picture of the original item from the catalog so we can compare

it must be a specific comparable item, like my lamp shade, and not just a “this kind of has the PB look to it”

you must link back to me in your post, preferably using my button code, which you can get in my right side column

link to your specific party post, and not your general home page

you should be polite and visit several other participants and leave a nice comment

If you need more details, see this post. List will be open until Sun Oct 31 at 11:59 pm.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

You have until 11:59 (central) to enter the Willow House giveaway. Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow is also the Knock-Off Party. Here’s the legal jargon:

Your knock-off can be inspired by Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs or Restoration Hardware . I know there are others out there, but I feel that there must be some restraints or it just ends up as anything-goes and the original idea is lost.

It’s perfectly fine to knock-off something that they don’t sell anymore, or something that you see styled in the catalog or store but isn’t actually for sale. But, in either case, I would like you to have a photo of the original item, either scanned in from an old catalog, or a photo you took in the store. I don’t want something totally unique that you made that you think has the PB, BD, or RH “look”; that’s awesome, but it’s doesn’t fit this party.

So, the rules:

your knock-off entry must be made by you

you must include a picture of the original item from the catalog so we can compare

it must be a specific comparable item, like my lamp shade, and not just a “this kind of has the PB look to it”

you must link back to me in your post, preferably using my button code, which you can get in my right side column

Post and linky will go up at midnight.

More news: I’m also starting a weekly party on Mondays which was born out of my Thrifty Thursday party back in May. You have a wider berth with this one. It just needs to be a tip that saves you money and that someone else might be able to use. Stuff like an inexpensive recipe, how to make your own cleaning supplies, how to recycle kitty litter into playthings…

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

First off, a reminder that the first monthly Pottery Barn/Ballard Designs/Restoration Hardware Knock-Off Party is this Friday. I guess that means I’d better get started on something! I hope some of you will be able to link up. (This button is as yet without code, but I hope to have that fixed by Friday.)

Now, a yummy fall recipe. We had these pumpkin pancakes from allrecipes for supper Saturday. They were a lovely golden color, and tasted reminiscent of pumpkin pie. I tweaked it based on some of the reviews to the following:

Ingredients

2 cups whole white wheat flour

4 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup pumpkin puree

2 eggs

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons vinegar

Directions

In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar.

Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, spices, and salt.

Add about 1/2 of the milk mixture to the dry mixture and combine; let stand until the dry ingredients are absorbed.

Add the rest of the milk mixture; combine.

Heat a griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot. Will take a little longer than regular pancakes to cook.

Ingredients

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup water

Directions

Stir together the white sugar, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Stir in vanilla extract and water. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring often. Continue to boil and stir until mixture thickens to syrup consistency. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes before serving.

My changes: I used 1 cup of sucanat rather than 1/2 white and 1/2 brown sugar. I only used 1 Tbsp of flour, but it was still a little thick and I think I’d leave it out altogether next time.

The whole family enjoyed this treat! (You are correct if you think that is a paper plate; the dishwasher was full…don’t judge!)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Today I’d like to introduce you to my new sponsor, Nanci, a Willow House consultant. Formerly known as Southern Living at Home, Willow House carries home accessories with the beautiful look and quality we all associate with Southern Living.

There are so many wonderful products that it was hard for me to pick just a few to highlight. I absolutely love the Farmhouse Tiered Basket! I can think of so many things it could be used for. It would be great at your desk with mailing supplies, notepads, pens and pencils, or in a guest bath with rolled hand towels, soaps, lotions and other little necessities for visitors.

Everyone needs some pretty serving pieces, especially if you’re going to be doing any entertaining over the holidays. I really like the Villa Footed Server. I think it would work equally well as a fruit bowl, to hold a centerpiece arrangement, or for serving the mashed potatoes.

Nanci also has a Willow House blog, where she highlights products and ideas for ways to use them. She notifies readers of sales that are going on, and customers can send her pictures of their Willow House products in use.

Be sure to check out her Opportunities page. Here you will find info about hosting a party, fundraisers, or becoming a consultant. You can even have a Blog Party and get the same benefits as an at-home hostess.

Nanci is giving away a $25 gift certificate to one of my lucky readers! To enter:

Friday, October 22, 2010

In case you missed it at the bottom of yesterday’s post, I’m going to make the announcement again. Based on the on-going popularity of my Pottery Barn Knock-Off Party (plus, it was an awesome party and a lot of fun!) from back in February, I’m going to start hosting one every last Friday of the month!

This time I’m going to open it up to Ballard Designs and Restoration Hardware in addition to PB. I know there are others out there, but I feel that there must be some restraints or it just ends up as anything-goes and the original idea is lost. If you feel strongly that I should include another catalog, make a suggestion and I’ll consider it.

I have a stack of old catalogs, some of them 4 or 5 years old. It’s perfectly fine to knock-off something that they don’t sell anymore, but I would like you to have a photo of the original item, either scanned in from an old catalog, or if you’re able to find it somewhere on the internet, or a photo you took in the store. I don’t want something totally unique that you made that you think has the PB, BD, or RH “look”; that’s awesome, but it’s doesn’t fit this party.

So, the rules:

your knock-off entry must be made by you

you must include a picture of the original item from the catalog so we can compare

it must be a specific comparable item, like my lamp shade, and not just a “this kind of has the PB look to it”

So, the first monthly PB/BD/RH Knock-off Party will be Friday, October 29. Grab your catalogs, get inspired, create, and meet me back here a week from Friday!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

What goes around, comes around. Drum shades, which were de riguer in the ’70s, are in again. Which means keep your eye out at thrift stores for old lamps.

I got this shade for a couple bucks. At the time I wasn’t sure how, but I new I could update it.

This lamp was a super clearance deal at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. It was okay, but nothing special, and I was getting tired of the square-ish lamp shade. It took me a while to put two and two together, but when I finally did, it was quick and easy.

I used burlap, because I had some, but I imagine you could use any fabric. This photo doesn’t show it very well, but the shade had a seam down the side, and I started at that point, lining up the finished edge of the burlap with the original seam, because I knew the fabric would not be straight once I’d gone all the way around.

Using spray adhesive, I carefully smoothed the burlap down all the way around the shade. Then I tucked the raw edge under that finished edge and glued. That gave the overlap a nice, straight finished edge.

I left lots of extra fabric while I was gluing to make sure I got full coverage, but once that was done, I trimmed the top and bottom edges to about 1/2”. I had also sprayed the coppery-colored frame black before I started with the burlap.

Then I just went around the top and bottom with the glue gun and folded over the edges.

And here it is now!

Me likey!

It's a pretty good knock-off of this one from Ballard Designs. Ballard’s: $59. Mine: under $5.

Now for the announcement. Way back in February I had a Pottery Barn Knock-off Party. It was awesome, and it’s still one of my most popular posts. I always figured I’d do it again sometime, and now is the time! I’m going to do it once a month, on the last Friday of the month. That will give us lots of time over the weekend to look through the entries.

I’m going to broaden it just a little bit, though, to Ballard Designs and Restoration Hardware in addition to PB. I know there are others out there, but I feel that there must be some restraints or it just ends up as anything-goes and the original idea is lost. If you feel strongly that I should include another catalog, make a suggestion and I’ll consider it.

A few more rules I’m going to insist upon:

your knock-off entry must be made by you

you must include a picture of the original item from the catalog so we can compare (scan in the photo from your old catalog or find one on the internet if there’s no longer a photo of it on the website)

it must be a specific comparable item, like my lamp shade, and not just a “this kind of has the PB look to it”

So, the first monthly PB/BD/RH Knock-off Party will be Friday, October 29. Grab your catalogs, get inspired, create, and meet me back here a week from Friday!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Went to Walmart last night. I go several times a week. I just can’t seem to get everything I need in, say, one trip a week. When the kids were little, I even made up a song. Background--long before my time there was this McDonald’s commercial:

Well, by the time I was a little kid, older kids had changed the words to “McDonald’s is your kind of place, hamburgers in your face, dill pickles up your nose, French Fries between your toes….etc, etc.” So that’s how I know the tune.

For my kids, I took the tune and made up this song:

Walmart is our favorite store

We’re always needing more

We never have enough

Of all that Walmart stuff!

I really sort of left it hanging and never did make up any more verses. I still occasionally sing it, just to make the kids groan and roll their eyes.

Aaaaanyway, back to the main point. While there, I grabbed a little pie pumpkin (and a red tablecloth and two more of the yummy candles). I wanted a white pumpkin, they didn’t have one, and I had a plan to paint this one.

I thought I had a can of Heirloom White, which would be a good creamy pumpkin white. I was mistaken. The only white I had was a 97c can of gloss white.

Fail! It didn’t adhere or cover very well. It looks worse in person. I could go to Home Depot and get Heirloom White, or just go ahead a buy a white pumpkin. But that would defeat the purpose of trying to do it on the cheap. And you know I’m cheap.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I love a good scented candle. The problem is, good candles usually cost more than I like to spend.

Well, recently I read on somebody’s blog how much they like Walmart’s Mainstays candles in Pumpkin Spice and Hazelnut Cream. I’m sorry, I can’t remember who it was; if it was you please let me know.

Now trust me, I’ve been down the candle aisle in Walmart before. I’ve sniffed, but I’ve never purchased. In my experience, cheap candles aren’t worth it. But, based on the recommendation, this time I picked up a Pumpkin Spice and a Hazelnut Cream in the little $1 jar.

Okay, yum! Not only are the scents really good, but you can actually smell them while they’re burning! I mean, you can smell it on the other side of the room! And they won’t bust your budget. I also think it’s nice that they have easy-to-peel-off labels; I hate it when you try to peel a label and half of it refuses to come off.

There were all sizes and shapes available: pillars short and tall, jars, triple wicks. Other than the $1 jars (about the size of a votive), the only one I remember for sure is that the triple wick in a jar (about 4” diameter x 2or3” high) was $3, which I thought was a pretty good price for a candle that size.

(I must throw in here that I got a pumpkin spice candle at Target recently; it doesn’t smell nearly as good, and I haven’t really noticed that the scent carries much at all while it’s burning.)

If pumpkin or hazelnut isn’t your thing, there are probably a dozen other scents. Try one next time you’re at Wally World.

Candle tips:

Trim the wick to about 1/4” before you light the candle each time; long wicks smoke.

Let jar or pillar candles burn for at least two or three hours before extinguishing; it will burn more evenly and not leave a tunnel down the middle.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Not long ago, I picked up the Oct. 17, 2010 issue of Woman’s Day for 50c at the thrift store. I guess some people are really organized and disciplined; they read their magazines and immediately get rid of them. Me, I’m a saver.

Anyway, this issue had several really cute ideas for decorating with candy corn that I’m going to share with you. You can find the article, photos and instructions here at Woman’s Day.

If I had any trees in my yard to get branches, I’d make this. Maybe I’ll send my son out foraging for sticks.

If you’re the party coordinator for your child’s class, this would be a cute and simple craft activity.

Firstborn says this is a waste of candy.

I had the stuff in my cart to make one of these and put it back. I think I thought I might drive myself nuts trying to get the candy corn to stay on the styrofoam ball.

You can’t get much simpler than this, which is why it’s the only one I’ve tried so far.

Friday, October 15, 2010

You know how you sometimes see those lists that tell you the best time to buy particular items? Like white sales are usually in January, and there are always big sales on furniture around Labor Day? Well, there could be a similar kind of thing for thrift stores.

Really, it’s pretty obvious. It’s possible that you might find some Christmas ornaments in July at a thrift store, of course, but start looking for them display lots of Christmas stuff in October or November.

Similarly, now is the time to start looking for winter outerwear at the thrift stores. I don’t know that I’ve ever paid retail for any of my kids’ winter coats, snow pants, or boots. They only need snow pants and boots a few times a year, so I sure don’t want to pay full price.

Pinkerbelle needed a coat this year; I found this one for under $4 and it’s big enough to last two years. The snow pants were $4 at Goodwill. My GW has a 7 day return policy, and I think I might end up returning these, because as it turns out we have a pair that will still fit her. (I never bought pink for the boys, obviously, and their black or blue hand-me-downs work just fine for her.)

For the last two or three years, Skippy had been wearing a winter coat that I originally bought off of ebay for Firstborn, and he wore it for at least two years. That’s a lot of mileage for a coat that cost about $15. But it’s way too small this year, and it was time Skippy had another.

This 4-in-1 coat was $12 at Goodwill, and it will fit him for at least two years. With all the pieces together, it’s a heavy coat. Take them apart and there are two mid-weight jackets, one of which is reversible and has zip-off sleeves for a vest option.

I still need to find him snow pants, because somehow he seems to have skipped a size. Firstborn is all set with the stuff I got him last year. But it has happened several times that I’ve spent $4 for a pair of snow pants that started at the top and went down through the ranks, lasting a couple years for each child. I also have a box full of boots that get the same treatment.

How do you stretch your dollar when it comes to dressing your kids for winter?